Howard Brown Case - Titanic Universe

Who was Howard Brown Case?

Howard Brown Case was a prominent American businessman and first-class passenger aboard the RMS Titanic. Born in 1863 in Rochester, New York, Case was a successful oil company executive who demonstrated remarkable bravery during the Titanic’s sinking on April 15, 1912, at the age of 49 (forty-nine). He was known for his gallantry in helping women and children into lifeboats before choosing to go down with the ship.

Early Life and Family Background

A Reverend’s Son

Howard Brown Case was born into a family with strong religious ties. His father, Reverend Charles Zopher Case (1837-1872), was a native of Sodus, New York, who ministered in the Dresden Methodist Church and Benton Center Church. His mother, Helen Brown Lyon (1838-1923), came from a family of distillers in Brighton, New York.

Siblings and Early Years

Case grew up with three siblings:

Twins Charles and Fanny (born 1866)
Emma (born 1870)

The 1880 census shows the family living in Rochester, along with Howard’s widowed grandmother, Eunice Lyon (born 1815).

Career and International Moves

From Oil Agent to Managing Director

Howard Case’s career in the oil industry took him across the Atlantic multiple times:

1886: First reported trip to England
1891: Listed as an oil company agent in Liverpool, England
1892: Returned to Rochester, New York
1899: Moved back to England to take charge of his company’s British interests
1911: Census records show him as managing director of the Vacuum Oil Company Ltd., living near Windsor, Berkshire

This trajectory demonstrates Case’s rising prominence in the oil industry and his ability to navigate international business landscapes.

Family Life

Marriage and Children

Howard Case married Elizabeth Crowther (born July 15, 1864), a native of Baltimore, Maryland. The couple had four children:

Helen (1890-1978)
John Crowther (1892-1983)
Charles Zopher (1893-1965)
Honor Elizabeth (1894-1925)

Their first child, Helen, was born in England, indicating the family’s early international connections.

The Fateful Titanic Journey

Boarding and Ticket Details

Embarkation Point: Southampton
Ticket Number: 19924
Ticket Cost: £26
Class: First Class

Heroic Actions During the Sinking

Multiple survivor accounts paint a picture of Case’s bravery during the Titanic’s final hours:

Assisting Women and Children: Case worked alongside others to help passengers into lifeboats.
Refusing to Leave: He chose to remain on the ship, exemplifying the “women and children first” ethos.

A poignant account from Mrs. Edith Graham and her daughter Margaret describes Case’s actions:

“Just then Mr Roebling came up, too. He told us to hurry and get into the boat. Mr Roebling and Mr Case bustled our party of three into that boat in less time than it takes to tell it. They were both working hard to help the women and children. The boat was fairly crowded when we three were pushed into it. A few men jumped in at the last moment, but Mr Roebling and Mr Case stood at the rail and made no attempt to get into the boat…”

Final Moments

In a conversation with fellow passenger Algernon Barkworth, Case displayed remarkable calm in the face of certain doom:

“My dear fellow, I wouldn’t think of quitting the ship. Why, she’ll swim for a week.”

He then lit a cigarette, embodying a stoic acceptance of his fate.

Legacy and Remembrance

Financial Aftermath

Case’s estate, valued at £5600, 19s, 2d, was administered to his widow on May 14, 1912.
Elizabeth Case filed a claim against the Oceanic Steam Navigation Company for $300,000.

Family After the Tragedy

Elizabeth Case returned to Rochester but made several transatlantic trips in later years.
She died in 1939 and is buried in Sherwood Episcopal Church Cemetery, Cockeysville, Maryland.
Howard is commemorated on her headstone, which reads:

ELIZABETH
CROWTHER CASE
DIED 1939
AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF HER HUSBAND
HOWARD BROWN CASE
LOST IN THE TITANIC, APRIL 15, 1912
AGED 47 YEARS

Children’s Lives

John Case (1892-1983): Followed in his father’s footsteps in the oil industry.
Helen Case Fox (1890-1978): Died in Cockermouth, Cumberland, England.
Honor Case Kimball (1894-1925): Passed away in Nantucket, Massachusetts at the young age of 30.
Charles Case (1893-1965): Died in New York.

Howard Brown Case’s life and death encapsulate the era’s spirit of adventure, international business, and the tragic heroism displayed during one of history’s most infamous maritime disasters. His legacy lives on through his descendants and in the annals of Titanic history.